Eli Manning: What needs to be seen from the Giants QB in Hall of Fame Game

CANTON, Ohio -- When the Giants play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in the Hall of Fame Game, be there right from the start. Even a poorly timed bathroom break at the 8 p.m. (ET) kickoff could make you miss the most important part of the game -- quarterback Eli Manning operating in the new Giants offense.

Manning and the starters will "have a minimal number" of snaps, according to coach Tom Coughlin. That likely means anywhere from one to three series and, most likely, less than a full quarter.

"Eli will start and we'll go from there," Coughlin vaguely said on Friday.

The NFL's preseason opener is an opportunity for Manning and the Giants to debut their West Coast offense under coordinator Ben McAdoo. It's expected there will be lots of quick, short passes. Coughlin also expressed a desire to establish a strong power running game, beginning in the Giants' first of five preseason games this season.

But, ultimately, the success of their 2014 campaign will depend on Manning. With so many new players -- at least five new offensive starters -- and a roster filled with unknowns, the Giants quarterback must have a bounce-back season in order for Big Blue to compete. He can't possibly be as bad as last year if the Giants want to make any noise in the NFC East this season.

The preseason opener is the first real peek at Manning in game action with the new offense. Here's what he needs to proves:

• Ankle Is Healthy
This is the top priority. If Manning can't play, the Giants might as well call it a season. Sure, Manning's ankle has looked good in minicamp and training camp after undergoing the first major surgery of his career. But remember, quarterbacks don't take hits in practices. Ever. The only time Manning's been seen on the ground is when his feet tangled with either a running back or offensive lineman. Against the Bills, he'll take his first real hit since injuring the ankle in the season finale against the Redskins. Let's see if it holds up after some true contact.

• Command of the Offense
The actual results on the field Sunday night are inconsequential. The Giants are working in baby steps here. The first game is all about making sure everything -- from the calling of the play, running of the play, getting players lined up, snap counts and adjustments at the line of scrimmage -- go smoothly. This is what Manning said would be important in the exhibition opener. It's hard to argue.

• Speed Out of the Huddle
The command of the offense spreads a wide net. More specifically, Manning must get the Giants out of the huddle (if there is one) and to the line of scrimmage with some urgency, on a regular basis. McAdoo has been working hard to speed up the offense this offseason. It's his, and Manning's, job to make it happen on Sunday night as well, even though it's the preseason opener in early August.

• Getting the Ball Out Quickly
From the look of things at training camp, the Giants offense is built around short, quick passes (slants, hitches, screens, out routes). Manning will be using a lot of three-step drops and ... release. No hesitation. Let's see if a game-speed pass rush causes any sort of hesitation. It's imperative that Manning gets the ball out of his hand quickly in this offense and let's the playmakers do their thing after the catch. Otherwise, it will not work.

• Clean Footwork
Manning admitted recently that his footwork went awry late last year. It was likely a result of the constant pressure, and lack of trust in his offensive line. He was throwing the ball off his back foot with regularity. Manning seems to have cleaned that up this spring and summer. Now it needs to translate to the game.